Calling for Action to Protect Chaco
Urgent Proposal to Record Chaco Prehistoric Roads
To be effective in our efforts to prevent damage to Chaco from the fast accelerating fracking boom, we have to move quickly: the "public scoping phase" of BLM's procedures as described below began March 19 and ends May 28th (See the links at the end of this message for more information).
The Solstice Project is distributing a short (4 mins) video alert "Fracking Threatens Chaco: a Sacred American Heritage." It shows Chaco roads and outlier sites in their vulnerable positions in the areas planned for fracking.
John Roney and Anna Sofaer also wrote the following "Urgent Proposal to Record Chaco's Prehistoric Roads." Numerous archaeologists are now supporting it and we encourage you to add your voice. We include a map showing Chacoan roads and sites located in the region where BLM is facilitating greatly increased energy development. It also includes a list of the sites and a preliminary assessment of mineral ownership of each one. See map & list below.
We propose that the BLM implement a comprehensive program of lidar and ground truthing in the 6.2 million acre area where they are they are proposing further energy development.
We encourage you to endorse this statement, or better yet, to write in your own words to the BLM to develop a program of responsible action. Send your comments to blm_nm_ffo_rmp@blm.gov before May 28!
Also address your concerns to the Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell, the NM (or your own) Congressional delegation and others:
Sally Jewell - feedback@ios.doi.gov
Tom Udall - info@tomudall.com
Jim Dumont, Heinrich staffer in Farmington: jim_dumont@heinrich.senate.gov
Ben Lujan - info@mail.house.gov
Susana Martinez - susana.martinez2@state.nm.us
Jesse Juen, BLM State Director: jjuen@blm.gov
Jeff Pappas, SHPO: jeff.pappas@state.nm.us
Link to New Mexican article ("New Oil Boom Coming to the San Juan Basin") www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-oil-boom-coming-to-san-juan-basin/article_665ff2f2-bd6c-54fd-9dd8-238092c73917.html
Links to BLM web sites
Newsletter describing "Public Scoping Phase" of BLM Planning Process.
www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/nm/field_offices/farmington/farmington_planning/ffo_planning_docs/rmpa_mancos.Par.93759.File.dat/FMG_ScopNwsltr_FINALPROOF_20140226.pdf
Description of Farmington BLM Planning Process
www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/fo/Farmington_Field_Office/ffo_planning/farmington_rmp/rmpa_mancos.html
Urgent Proposal to Record Chaco Prehistoric Roads
Prehistoric roads in the San Juan Basin and beyond are an irreplaceable legacy of American history and a source of archeological knowledge essential to understanding the development of the Chaco Culture and its monumental works. The descendant Pueblo people and Navajo people who claim cultural affiliation with Chaco consider these ancestral roads to have spiritual significance. However, the San Juan Basin is on the verge of a blanketing of energy development, driven by new oil and gas extraction technologies. According to the Santa Fe New Mexican the resulting economic boom could rival that now taking place in North Dakota and Montana.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is beginning a radical amendment to its regional land use plan for the San Juan Basin. However, at present there are no plans to consider the inevitable impacts of oil and gas developments on prehistoric road systems. According to BLM scoping documents, the area of "reasonably foreseeable development" (RFD) includes a poorly studied region where prehistoric roads are abundant. Many of the 35 major Chacoan buildings found within the area of likely development are associated with known or suspected prehistoric roads --- most of which have not been adequately documented. Significant other undocumented road segments are undoubtedly present within this region.
The process of identifying and documenting prehistoric roads requires comprehensive study with a variety of tools and specialized expertise. The normal approach to addressing impacts of oil and gas development under Federal law and environmental policy relies on pedestrian archeological surveys that are done at the time of actual development within the limited areas of specific proposals. Unfortunately prehistoric roads are almost never recognized during these inventories. The archaeological studies done as a part of the BLM Chaco Roads Project of the 1980s showed conclusively that identification and verification of prehistoric Chaco roads requires a phased process of analysis across large regions of concern, employing the best available remote sensing technology followed by specialized methods of ground-truthing. In addition, roads in general can be identified only by teams of archeologists and geomorphologists who have developed a special expertise to recognize their subtle and eroded vestiges.
Recent lidar recording of Chaco's Great North Road showed it to be an extremely accurate, revealing, and cost effective way to document Chaco's prehistoric roads. To stave off the devastating impacts of oil and gas drilling as well as the infrastructure of roads and other developments that accompany this activity, lidar data should be acquired for all areas where prehistoric roads are possible. These data should be analyzed in conjunction with historic aerial photography to identify likely prehistoric roads, and appropriate field studies should be implemented to ground-truth the results. Following the precedent of its 1980s road study the BLM should implement this program to again meet their public responsibility to protect cultural resources.
Major Roads Shown on Map
†"Proximity" indicates BLM administered oil and gas estate within ca. 1 mile of site.
†Disclaimer: Ownership information is based on a very preliminary analysis. There may be significant errors in non-BLM mineral ownership categories.*
To be effective in our efforts to prevent damage to Chaco from the fast accelerating fracking boom, we have to move quickly: the "public scoping phase" of BLM's procedures as described below began March 19 and ends May 28th (See the links at the end of this message for more information).
The Solstice Project is distributing a short (4 mins) video alert "Fracking Threatens Chaco: a Sacred American Heritage." It shows Chaco roads and outlier sites in their vulnerable positions in the areas planned for fracking.
John Roney and Anna Sofaer also wrote the following "Urgent Proposal to Record Chaco's Prehistoric Roads." Numerous archaeologists are now supporting it and we encourage you to add your voice. We include a map showing Chacoan roads and sites located in the region where BLM is facilitating greatly increased energy development. It also includes a list of the sites and a preliminary assessment of mineral ownership of each one. See map & list below.
We propose that the BLM implement a comprehensive program of lidar and ground truthing in the 6.2 million acre area where they are they are proposing further energy development.
We encourage you to endorse this statement, or better yet, to write in your own words to the BLM to develop a program of responsible action. Send your comments to blm_nm_ffo_rmp@blm.gov before May 28!
Also address your concerns to the Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell, the NM (or your own) Congressional delegation and others:
Sally Jewell - feedback@ios.doi.gov
Tom Udall - info@tomudall.com
Jim Dumont, Heinrich staffer in Farmington: jim_dumont@heinrich.senate.gov
Ben Lujan - info@mail.house.gov
Susana Martinez - susana.martinez2@state.nm.us
Jesse Juen, BLM State Director: jjuen@blm.gov
Jeff Pappas, SHPO: jeff.pappas@state.nm.us
Link to New Mexican article ("New Oil Boom Coming to the San Juan Basin") www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-oil-boom-coming-to-san-juan-basin/article_665ff2f2-bd6c-54fd-9dd8-238092c73917.html
Links to BLM web sites
Newsletter describing "Public Scoping Phase" of BLM Planning Process.
www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/nm/field_offices/farmington/farmington_planning/ffo_planning_docs/rmpa_mancos.Par.93759.File.dat/FMG_ScopNwsltr_FINALPROOF_20140226.pdf
Description of Farmington BLM Planning Process
www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/fo/Farmington_Field_Office/ffo_planning/farmington_rmp/rmpa_mancos.html
Urgent Proposal to Record Chaco Prehistoric Roads
Prehistoric roads in the San Juan Basin and beyond are an irreplaceable legacy of American history and a source of archeological knowledge essential to understanding the development of the Chaco Culture and its monumental works. The descendant Pueblo people and Navajo people who claim cultural affiliation with Chaco consider these ancestral roads to have spiritual significance. However, the San Juan Basin is on the verge of a blanketing of energy development, driven by new oil and gas extraction technologies. According to the Santa Fe New Mexican the resulting economic boom could rival that now taking place in North Dakota and Montana.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is beginning a radical amendment to its regional land use plan for the San Juan Basin. However, at present there are no plans to consider the inevitable impacts of oil and gas developments on prehistoric road systems. According to BLM scoping documents, the area of "reasonably foreseeable development" (RFD) includes a poorly studied region where prehistoric roads are abundant. Many of the 35 major Chacoan buildings found within the area of likely development are associated with known or suspected prehistoric roads --- most of which have not been adequately documented. Significant other undocumented road segments are undoubtedly present within this region.
The process of identifying and documenting prehistoric roads requires comprehensive study with a variety of tools and specialized expertise. The normal approach to addressing impacts of oil and gas development under Federal law and environmental policy relies on pedestrian archeological surveys that are done at the time of actual development within the limited areas of specific proposals. Unfortunately prehistoric roads are almost never recognized during these inventories. The archaeological studies done as a part of the BLM Chaco Roads Project of the 1980s showed conclusively that identification and verification of prehistoric Chaco roads requires a phased process of analysis across large regions of concern, employing the best available remote sensing technology followed by specialized methods of ground-truthing. In addition, roads in general can be identified only by teams of archeologists and geomorphologists who have developed a special expertise to recognize their subtle and eroded vestiges.
Recent lidar recording of Chaco's Great North Road showed it to be an extremely accurate, revealing, and cost effective way to document Chaco's prehistoric roads. To stave off the devastating impacts of oil and gas drilling as well as the infrastructure of roads and other developments that accompany this activity, lidar data should be acquired for all areas where prehistoric roads are possible. These data should be analyzed in conjunction with historic aerial photography to identify likely prehistoric roads, and appropriate field studies should be implemented to ground-truth the results. Following the precedent of its 1980s road study the BLM should implement this program to again meet their public responsibility to protect cultural resources.
MAJOR CHACOAN RESOURCES WITHIN AREA OF REASONABLY FORSEEABLE DEVELOPMENT
Major Roads Shown on Map
- West Road
- Chacra Face Road
- Yellow Pt. Herradura
- South Road
- Ah-shi-shle-pa
- Southeast Road
- North Road
| LA Number | Name | Proximity† | Mineral Ownership | Notes |
| Bis sa ani | BLM | BLM | ||
| LA 17083 | Casa Abajo/Cielo | BLM | BLM | |
| Escavada | BLM | BLM | ||
| LA 35418 | Greenlee | BLM | BLM | |
| Halfway House | BLM | BLM | North Road | |
| LA 18755 | Lake Valley | BLM | BLM | |
| LA 35419 | Lower Greenlee | BLM | BLM | |
| Pierres | BLM | BLM | North Road | |
| LA 15278 | Reservoir Site | BLM | BLM | |
| LA 5642 | Twin Angels | BLM | BLM | North Road |
| LA 34245 | Upper Kin Klizhin | BLM | BLM | South Road |
| LA 1275 | Slab House | BLM | Navajo Res. | |
| LA 126820 | LA 126820 | BLM | Navajo Tribe? | |
| LA 40081 | LA 40081 | BLM | Navajo Tribe? | |
| LA 18705 | Kin Bineola | BLM | NPS | |
| LA 4975 | Kin Klizhin | BLM | NPS | |
| LA 40352 | Padilla Well | BLM | NPS | |
| LA 574 | Pueblo Pintado | BLM | NPS | |
| LA 40352 | Padilla Well | BLM | NPS? | |
| LA 1916 | Holmes Group A | BLM | Private | |
| LA 1931 | Holmes Group B | BLM | Private | |
| LA 1921 | Jackson Lake | BLM | Private | |
| LA 2609 | Jacquez | BLM | Private | |
| LA 59967 | Kello Blancett | BLM | Private | |
| LA 60746 | LA 60746 | BLM | Private | |
| Morris 39 | BLM | Private | ||
| LA 61051 | Old Fort | BLM | Private | |
| LA 12759 | Eagle Nest | BLM | Private? | |
| LA 2520 | LA 2520 | BLM | Ute Mt. Res. | |
| LA 17221 | Casa del Rio | BLM | Allotted | |
| LA 53344 | Casa Escondido | BLM | Allotted | |
| LA 17220 | Mesa Tierra | BLM | Allotted | |
| LA 47859 | Nous Petons du Fue | BLM | Allotted | Chacra Face |
| LA 14354 | Raton Well | BLM | Allotted | |
| LA 35421 | Tse Lichii | BLM | Allotted | Chacra Face |
| Yellow Point Herradura | BLM | Allotted | ||
| LA 42282 | Greasy Hill Pueblo | BLM | Allotted? | |
| LA 40402 | Kin Indian | BLM | Allotted? | North Road |
| LA 7292 | Sanostee House 1 | Navajo Res | ||
| LA 25903 | Cuatro Payasos | Navajo Res. | ||
| LA 685 | El Malpais | Navajo Res. | ||
| LA 51153 | Escalon | Navajo Res. | ||
| LA 11594 | Hogback | Navajo Res. | ||
| LA 89433 | House of the Giant Midden | Navajo Res. | ||
| Tse Takaa | Navajo Res. | |||
| LA 18235 | Willow Canyon | Navajo Res. | ||
| LA 8620 | LA 8620 | Navajo Res.? | ||
| LA 34208 | Casa Patricio | Navajo Tribe | ||
| LA 100060 | Chaco East | Navajo Tribe? | ||
| LA 126862 | LA 126862 | Navajo Tribe? | Outside RFD | |
| LA 8619 | LA 8619 | Private | ||
| LA 122652 | Sterling | Private | ||
| Squaw Springs | Ute Mt. Res. |
†"Proximity" indicates BLM administered oil and gas estate within ca. 1 mile of site.
†Disclaimer: Ownership information is based on a very preliminary analysis. There may be significant errors in non-BLM mineral ownership categories.*
